Thomas Edison’s Horror Legacy: Frankenstein, a Decapitated Queen and a Fried Elephant
Did you know Thomas Edison, the inventor, was also a pioneer in horror and shock cinema? Well, he kind of was…or at least took credit for stuff.
Although it’s a commercially proven genre, horror doesn’t always get much respect. Still, some of the earliest films were horror. For example, J. Searle Dawley’s version of Frankenstein was released in 1910, and produced by Thomas Edison himself. Who was Thomas Edison? Well, if you haven’t heard of him, you should probably dust off your own grade school textbooks!
Edison is often considered America’s greatest inventor. While some reasonably believe he hogged credit for things, that’s not what we’re interested in here. At the very least, we know Edison slapped his name on a bunch of stuff and largely got away with it (Marvel’s Stan lee is sometimes accused of hogging credit for things, too).
One overlooked aspect of Edison is that he must have liked horror, and filming horrific things. Before the 1910 Frankenstein film, his company produced a very short film in 1895 called The Execution of Mary Stuart. The plot? It’s simply a visual depiction of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots! Horror doesn’t get much more basic than that. The execution was fake, but is considered the first use of special effects on film.
In 1903, Edison’s company famously (and somewhat notoriously) filmed an actual execution of an elephant named Topsy, who apparently had killed someone. The film Electrocuting an Elephant was born. It’s not a totally unknown short film. In fact, the cartoon Bob’s Burgers dedicates much of an episode’s plot to it. Still, it’s some people may have missed that episode. It’s also debatable to what extent one should condemn Edison’s company for this. He could be considered a mere documentarian, after all.
Was Thomas Edison Just Into Shock?
The short answer would be “No,” because Edison’s company made non-horror films, too. Still, he didn’t shy away from titillation. In fact, a filmmaker associated with Thomas Edison was shocking, too. I’m talking about Edison Studios cameraman Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery. Though it was made in 1903, The Great Train Robbery shows such things as a man being beaten to death with a brick, and a final shot of a bandit (played by Justus D. Barnes) firing a gun point blank at the audience. Also, Barnes looks cool as hell doing so!
In short, Edison and his people were definitely early innovators in shock cinema. Sure, there are some uncomfortable things about him, like that elephant film, and the fact his favorite movie was The Birth of a Nation (always an embarrassing thing to read about). However, credit must be given where it’s due.
Edison’s Electric Frankenstein
While these short films may have lacked some qualities, they were a sign of what was to come in horror. The 1910 Frankenstein actually has a pretty freaky transformation sequence, where Dr. Frankenstein animates his monster. At the same time, the story tries to have heart. In fact, the plot description in Edison’s Kinetogram says “Edison Co. has carefully tried to eliminate all actual repulsive situations and to concentrate its endeavors upon the mystic and psychological problems that are to be found in this weird tale.” Nevertheless, this is a surprisingly freaky version of the story, especially for its scant 14 minute running time!
This suggests that, at least some people at “Edison Co.” wanted to balance the shock with an appeal to wider audience. This, of course, is a problem faced by many aspiring horror filmmakers. Should they just go for it and depict truly appaling things on screen, or should they play it safe and appease polite society? In any case, Thomas Edison’s productions made their decisions, and they were products of their time.
On that note, the 1910 Frankenstein was actually believed to be a lost film until the 1970s, when it was revealed by Alois F. Dettlaff, a film collector from Wisconsin. Weird, isn’t it? One of the earliest known horror films might have been perpetually lost, were it not for that one Wisconsinite! What if he chose to just leave it in an attic, or lost it in a fire?
What are your thoughts on Thomas Edison, the 1910 Frankenstein and/or poor Topsy? Let us know in the comments!
Breaking News
Joe Bob’s Christmas Carnage: A Bloody Good Holiday Special Fri. December 13th – 9pm ET!
Hey there, fright fiends! 👻 Are you ready to sink your fangs into some spine-tingling Black Friday deals? We’ve scoured the darkest corners of Amazon to bring you a blood-curdling collection of horror goodies that’ll make your wallet scream with joy! From classic monsters to modern nightmares, we’ve got something to haunt every horror fan’s dreams. Let’s dive into the madness!
Before we go further – we are an amazon affiliate and if you click these links we may get money for Amazon. With that said, we won’t put up things we don’t suggest so here is the curated list as it sits for Black Friday Week 2024.
🎥 Monstrous Movie Mayhem
Bram Stoker’s Dracula 4K
Sink your teeth into Francis Ford Coppola’s visually stunning adaptation of the classic vampire tale. Watch Gary Oldman’s mesmerizing performance as the Count in glorious 4K resolution!
Christine 4K
Rev up your engines for John Carpenter’s killer car classic! This 4K edition will have you gripping your steering wheel in terror as the demonic Plymouth Fury wreaks havoc.
Akira Blu-ray
Experience the mind-bending anime masterpiece that redefined the genre. Prepare for a psychedelic journey through Neo-Tokyo that’ll leave you questioning reality!
Underworld Ultimate Collection Blu-ray
Dive into the eternal war between vampires and lycans with this action-packed collection. Kate Beckinsale’s leather-clad Selene will have you howling for more!
Resident Evil Steelbook
For the true RE fanatics, this gorgeous steelbook edition is a must-have for your collection. It’s so shiny, you can see the T-virus reflected in it!
Doctor Who Complete David Tennant Blu-ray
Okay, it’s not strictly horror, but who can resist the Weeping Angels? Join the Tenth Doctor on his time-traveling adventures and prepare for some serious sci-fi scares!
Evil Dead Blu-ray
Groovy, baby! Sam Raimi’s cult classic will have you laughing and screaming in equal measure. Remember, this is your boom stick!
Scream (2022) Steelbook
The slasher franchise that knows the rules is back with a vengeance! This meta-horror masterpiece will have you guessing who’s behind the Ghostface mask.
Leviathan 4K UHD Blu-ray
Dive deep into aquatic terror with this underrated gem from the golden age of practical effects. It’s like “The Thing” meets “The Abyss”!
📚 Bone-Chilling Books and Comics
Terrifier 2 BOOK by Tim Waggoner
Can’t get enough of Art the Clown? This novelization of the splatter sensation will paint vivid, gory pictures in your mind. Sleep tight!
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 3
D’oh-n’t miss out on this collection of spooky Simpsons stories! It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween in Springfield all year round.
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
Dive into one of King’s classic tales of psychic abilities and political intrigue. Johnny Smith’s visions will keep you on the edge of your seat!
🎮 Ghoulish Games and Collectibles
Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead PS5
Double the horror, double the fun! Face off against Michael Myers and the Deadites in this terrifying two-pack of asymmetrical multiplayer games.
Alone in the Dark Xbox Series X
Return to Derceto Manor in this reimagining of the survival horror classic. Just remember, in the dark, you’re never truly alone…
Chucky Funko Pop
Add everyone’s favorite Good Guy doll to your collection! Just don’t turn your back on him, or you might regret it…
Harry Potter LEGO Hogwarts
Who can resist the allure of a magical and/or haunted castle? Build your own magical world and watch out for those Dementors!
🎬 The Final Cut
There you have it, horror hounds! These Black Friday deals are so good, it’s scary. Whether you’re into classic monsters, modern slashers, or cosmic horrors, Amazon’s got something to make your dark heart skip a beat.
But hurry! Like a vampire at sunrise, these deals won’t last forever. If you want to do a general search on your own, feel free to use our link here.
Remember, in the world of horror, the only thing scarier than missing out on these deals is paying full price! Happy haunting, and may your Black Friday be filled with delightful frights! 🎃👻🔪
If you live in the United States, it’s time to rock the vote for real. I shared this video before in conjunction with my identity-based costume work, and I feel it’s important to revisit now, with the election coming up in just a few days. Besides which, Jack Black and Tenacious D are brilliant and given the current political climate, who doesn’t want to do the time warp? But seriously, get out and rock the vote, your life kinda does depend on it (at least insomuch as being able to make for yourself the life that you want, without the government telling you how to do so – especially if you live on the fringes of socially acceptable awkwardness like me and so many of my friends).
Besides which, this video is so good, it’s worth sharing again anyway. And again, if for some reason the video doesn’t load, you can find it here.
Art Attack
And here are some artworks I made awhile back as political commentary. The photograph was shot of the scene exactly as found, of a sign above a parking lot in a quickly gentrifying neighborhood making sure all knew that any unauthorized vehicles were unwelcome, and hung right in front of a flag that was tattered and torn from being caught on the chain link fence driving the point home. The flags were meant to be interactive, with gallerygoers waving them while singing The Star Spangled Banner in its elitist entirety. The whole really spoke to me regarding some of the political climate at the time (this was right before Trump was elected President the first time). How much has changed since then? In some ways, a lot. In other ways, I guess we shall see.
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